Upright-piano action.



L. HEITZMANN.

UPRIGHT PIANO ACTION.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 11. 1910.

Patented 'Jan. 5, 1915.

2 sHEETs-sHEET 1.

mc/wfoz L. HEITZMANN.

UPRIGHT PIANQ ACTION. APPLICATION FILED JULY 11, 1910.

Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

f anon/whom MM, W 11 $51 44 SM- up THE NORRIS PETERS 60., FHOTDLITHON WASHINGTON. D. c.

FATNT LOUIS HEITZMANN, OF STEINWAY, NEW? YORK.

UPR-IGHT?IANO ACTION.

1,12%,134. Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 11, 1810.

T all them 1'25 may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS HEITZMANN, a subject of the Emperor of Austria-Himgary, and a resident of Steinway, county of Queens, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improve; ments in Upright-Piano Actions, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The main object of this invention is to simplify and improve the ordinary piano action by providing an adjustable countercheck of very simple construction, and so modifying the construction of the fiy or jack that it operates in conjunction with said adjustable check in such manner as to dispense with the ordinary back-check, bridle-wire and bridle-strap, and with the heel and shank of the hammer-butt.

Another object of the invention is to provide simple and eflicient means whereby the fly or jack may positively lock and hold the hammer against movement or vibration after striking the wire.

A further object of the invention is to provide an action which is particularly adapted for use in connection with what is known as player pianos, and which action is so constructed that it reduces the space usually occupied by the working parts and is thereby more compact and consequently more suitable for this class of pianos.

lVith these and other objects in view, the invention will be hereinafter more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and will then be pointed out in the claims at the end of the description.

in the drawings, Figure l is an elevation of a piano action in its normal or at rest position, the various supporting rails being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a similar *iew, showing the parts in the position which they assume after a key has been struck and when in check; and Fig. 3 is a similar view, showing the parts in the position which they assume just previous to the contact between the counter-check and the extension or backcheck of the fly or jack, and at the instant the foot of the jack or fly engages its regu lating stop.

Referring to the various parts by numerals, l designates the inner end of a piano key which is arranged to contact with Patented Jan. 5, 1%15.

Serial No. 571,352.

the lower end of the sticker 2. This sticker is supported near its lower end by a link 3 and is connected at its upper end to a wippen l, this latter part being pivoted at 5. The link 3 is pivotally supported by the bottom action-rail 6, and the pivotal support of the wippen is carried by the top actionrail 7. The hammer-butt S is pivotally sup ported at the up er ed 'e of the top actionrail and carries the usual shank 9 and the hammer 10, the shank resting against the hammer-rail 11 when in its normal or at rest position.

The hammer-butt is provided with the usual cushion 12 and the upwardly and outwardly inclined cushion surface 13. The fly or jack 1% is pivoted at its low r end to an upwaidly-extending lug 15 carried by the wippen 4, and between the outwardly extending arm 16 formed at the lower end of the fly and the upper surface of the wippen is arranged a spring 17 which normally holds the fly in engagement with the cushions l9 and 1-3 and in the corner formed by said cushioned surfaces, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. Just above the arm 16 is supported a stop-rail 18 which carries a vertically adjustable stop 19 with which the arm 16 is ada )tQCl to contact during the upward movement of the wippen under the action of the piano key. The various parts of the action are returned to their normal or at rest positions by means of a spring 20 carried by the spring rail 21. 22 designates the piano wire arranged to be struck by the iammer.

All of the parts of the apparatus herein before described are old and may be of any desired or any well-known construction.

To the hammer-butt is connected a downwardly and outwardly inclined adjustable rod or 23 which carries a countercheck or button 24. Connected to the liy or jack near its upper end is an upwardly and outwardly extending back check or arm 25. This back-check, arm or extension 25 is arranged at an angle to the main body of the fly i i and together with the upper end of said fly forms a substantially wedge or V-shaped end for the fly. The extension or arm 25 is somewhat longer than the main body of the fly and screw button the arm or extension being preferably through projects beyond the adjustable rod or 23 which carries the counter-check or 04 slotted to permit the rod 23 to pass said slot and the end to extend beyond said rod. The outer face of the arm or backcheck 25 is adapted to contact with the counter-check or button 24 when the key is struck and the fly is lifted to operate the hammer. The stop 19 is adjusted toward or from the foot 16 of the fiy. The instant the foot 16 engages the stop 19 the upper end of the jack will begin to swing outwardly and to move along the incline 13. As it moves along the incline 13, the backcheck 25 approaches the stop or countercheck button 2% and when it is in contact with said counter-check all movement or vibration of the hammer is prevented. The upper end of the jack, as shown in the drawing tends to force the hammer toward the piano wire, said jack operating on the inclined surface 13. This brings the countercheck 24: and the back-check or arm 25 into contact, as in Fig. 2, with a wedging action, said arm thereby stopping the hammer and holding it against all vibration. The inclination of the counter-check button 2i and back-check extension 25 of the jack is for the purpose of permitting said extension or part 25 to slide when the hammer and butt is locked by the jack, sufiiciently to avoid a shock to the fingers of the player or operator. If the locking effect was sudden, there would be considerable objection to the touch on the piano keys. At the same time, the jack serves to posit'vely lock and hold the hammer immediately upon its return after striking the wire. This is effected by reason of the part 16 engaging the regulating button 19 at one end and having the upper end of the jack 1 1 abutting against the hammer butt and the extension or back check arm 25 resting against the button 24:. By reason of this construction, the jack is positively locked against movement because of the engagement of the regulating button 19, the hammer butt and the counter check button 24, and thereby holds the hammer against any vibratory movement whatever. By reason of the peculiar action of the jack on the hammer butt the hammer completes its working stroke or hammer blow before the upper end of the jack moves to any appreciable extent along the inclined surface 13 so that the hammer strikes its blow and is then withdrawn and held from contact with the wire as well as being held against vibration. By adjusting the check or button 19 and the counter-check 2a the operation of the parts may be accurately timed and by reason of the inclination of the back-check it will start the hammer on its movement toward the rail 11 when the key is released independent of the spring 20.

It is manifest from the foregoing that I provide a very simple piano action which will be efiicient in operation, easily regulated and accurate in time. It is also manifest that I dispense with a number of parts of the ordinary piano action without sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and at the same time secure the advantage of positively locking and holding the hammer against all vibration after the hammer has completed its working stroke or hammer blow.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. An upright piano action comprising a pivoted hammer butt, a hammer carried thereby, a rod secured rigidly to said hammer butt, a counter check button adjustably mounted on said rod, a pivoted jack having an outwardly and upwardly extending slotted arm forming a back check and extending beyond the upper limit of movement of the counter check button, said rod being passed freely through the slot in said arm, the latter being adapted to engage said button to arrest the movement of the hammer after its stroke.

'2. An upright piano action comprising. a pivoted hammer butt, a hammer carried thereby, a rod secured rigidly to said hammer butt, a counter check button adjustably mounted on said rod, and having its engaging face inclined upwardly and outwardly away from the shank of the hammer, a pivoted jack having an outwardly and upwardly extending slotted arm forming a back check and extending beyond. the upper limit of movement of the counter check button, said rod being passed freely through the slot in said arm, the latter being adapted to engage said button to arrest the movement of the hammer after its stroke.

This specification signed and witnessed this 9th day of July A. D. 1910.

LOUIS HEITZMANN. 1Vitnesses:

W. A. Townnn, Jr., C. BARTELS.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G. 

